The Times - Cryptic - This puzzle was one of three correctly solved in a total of less than 60 mins by 14 of the 24 competitors in the Grand Final of the 2015 Times Crossword Championship - December 16, 2015

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Clues Answers
A conspirator's right up tree ARBUTUS
Alternative to raspberry, with half the flavour in drink BOOZE
Artistic Frenchman has dull children rejecting university MATISSE
Attempt to penetrate big bundle FAGOT
Composer almost crazy within as manuscript is produced HANDMADE
David's boy acting alone by day SOLOMON
Doyens matter less and need to be massaged ELDERSTATESMEN
During period of work retains cold behavioural pattern INSTINCT
Flower you must remove from African tree in days TAMAR
Fruit that's ace with cereal ACORN
Good person given prize, not the first employee of club? STEWARD
Grotesque king on view with head chopped off RISIBLE
In statement of opinion this writer is monotonous SAMEY
Is there so bizarre a tendency to be superior to parents? HETEROSIS
Island's banished female star as defined in two parts MIRANDA
Clues Answers
It's hell facing Cavalier monarch threatening to be unfair DISCRIMINATORY
Lots to see in this Southern capital: Rome also extraordinary SALESROOM
Martyr at rest in furthest parts of cemetery RIDLEY
New York's stage actors losing the way in show BROADCAST
Plant is trodden on by horse ARABIS
Purchase that includes divine china BUDDY
Regret about evil old city blokes primarily in its parks? RUSINURBE
Remarkably, it's manure giving protection from disease ANTISERUM
Report of what is dazzling talent FLAIR
Sent legal document with insubstantial content DELIGHTED
Slandered in the past, wanting scrap BACKBIT
Street woman in sort of performance that can get filthy DUSTSHEET
The despicable people holding army officer — rulers claiming religious authority THEOCRATS
Weapon to throw discus-style? SIDEARM
Without hesitation, a holy book provides shocks NUMBS